Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear 6.5 vs 308 personal opinion?

Looking at picking up a bergara b14 hmr Wednesday. Have been looking at bandwagon debates all over the internet regarding both calibers but have not spoken with anyone that has used both.
I currently have a model 7 7mm08, a savage 110 308 (wifes), a Remington punp 270, an old browning medallion 270, and a Remington model 7 .260 that my dad typically hunts with.
I do not have any of these set up for a long range gun, which is why I'm wanting the b14. I have always been interested in shooting long range paper, but want something reliable at 50 yards if the occasion arises.

It seems everything I have read is either diehard 308 or diehard 6.5. Both have their arguments, but what are the "real world" advantages of either ?

How is a lighter, faster 6.5 going to handle a 50 yard shot vs a heavier 308 on animals? And vice versa at 400 yards. Have not found any true data regarding things like that, all just paper data.

Haven't posted here in a while but you guys seem to always steer me right.
TIA

The difference will occur as you shoot paper at ranges approaching 1000yds. The ballistic coefficient of the 6.5 will mean up to a couple of feet less drift than the 308. Aside of that, I like a 308.

I'm looking for a B14 HMR for the same reasons, long range target shooting, but I'm wanting a 6mm Creedmoor. For hunting applications up to 400-500 yards the 308 has a slight advantage, past that ,the 6.5 had the advantage because of the higher BC bullets. The 6.5 will have less recoil. If I was choosing between those 2 today I would pick the 308, just because I'm already setup to reload 308. But, I would choose the 6.5 other wise. The 6.5 is more than capable of any hunting you want to do and will be better at long range target shooting.

I own and hunt with both. Both will kill a deer just fine if you do your part. I’ve killed deer from 10yds to 425yds with my 6.5 and from 10yds to 350yds with my 308. One was just as dead as the others. Ive shot long range with both calibers and both will do the job if you can do your part. With all of that said I’ll take my 6.5 over a 308 any day. Less recoil, higher BC bullets and in all honesty I personally have never seen a 6.5 that was picky about ammo. They will eat anything you feed them.

The only caliber I own that is sort of off the normal (AKA not common on a walmart shelf) is 6.8 SPC. I use it to hunt in an AR-15 platform with a little more power. Honestly for ammo it's hard to beat 308. Tons of choices and lots of cheap surplus. That's why I also chose 7.62x39 over 300 Blackout. It's gonna be tough to find 6.5 ammo for less than 80c/round. But if you're okay with that, I've heard it's a good performing round at the long range end of things.

243 or 308 in SA, 270 or 30-06 in LA

If you're shooting a 6MM for target shooting 6MM Creedmoor that's set up for longer heavier more aerodynamic bullets is the way to go.

Barrel wear is supposedly an issue with the 6.5. If you use ELD-X bullets BC isn't going to make that much difference. I've been impressed with 6.5 on paper as far as accuracy. It is a tough decision.

I looked at one of the Bergara rifles last Saturday and I liked it. Nice gun.

I would do the 6.5 if I was willing to commit to shooting 140's through it at deer. The reason to own a 6.5 is the ballistics. If you shoot small bullets that all goes out the window and there is no advantage. It still has some redeemable qualities like good penetration, IMO. I still like it... but you are not using the cartridge to it's full potential shooting a light bullet.

Otherwise I would get the .308 just because you have a lot more ammo choices if you are not a reloader.

Picked up the HMR today. Found a killer deal on that and a ruger AR for my pops for Christmas.
Decided to go with the 308 since I do not hand load yet and having more power inside 500 yards. I'm not going to be competition shooting so those long range shots will be for fun anyway. That and also not having many 1000 yard places to shoot here made me think the 308 would handle everything I need.
Now just to decide on a scope

I’d go 6.5 but I like the ballistic at long range. Under 500 recoil will be the only big difference. And I wouldn’t worry about barrel life. Most guys probably don’t shoot more than 50 rounds in a year. A 6.5 will give you at least 2500 rounds of factory loads until you even have to think about rebarreling

When you start rolling your own your .308 will most likely enjoy 168 Sierra's& Varget powder.

i'd just soon have a 30-06 or a 7mag . lol

If you reload 260rem if not 6.5 creedmoor. Saying that I will gladly admit to hunting with a tikka t3 in 308 regularly.

I don't have a 6.5 creedmoor, but it should be a fine choice despite the naysayers. I have several rifles, including a 308 I bought @ 3 years ago that I only use when hunting fields in shooting houses. I load 168 gr Hornady AMAX bullets to 2650 FPS and it has dropped every deer I've shot with it in its tracks from 100 to 330 yards. Great gun and very accurate and the performance of the AMAX has been impressive.

I own both the 6.5 CM and .308 .
I hunt with both and either will kill deer/hogs just as dead as the other.
IMO you won’t go wrong with with calibre

I also own both and have killed several deer with both. I hunt with the 6.5. I love that gun. It is a tack driver, low recoil, and fun to shoot gun. I use the 143 gr Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X. I shot under a 1/2" group at 100 yards with this factory ammo. I've only started hunting with it last year and I have killed 7 deer with it. Only one did not drop in its tracks, but ran 50-75 yards. I love both calibers, but my favorite is the 6.5.

6.5 is lighter than the .308, but not faster at the muzzle, and doesn't have as much energy as the .308 until you pass 500 yards.

For this info, I compared the 6.5 cm Hornady Precision Hunter 143 ELDX and the .308 Superformance 165 grain SST. The lighter 129 grain Superformance 6.5 ammo is faster at the muzzle, but less punch at 500.


Absolutely, 6.5 creedmoor will kill a deer, but it's only advantage over a host of other calibers is the higher BC bullets, that assist in reducing long range drop. At 500 yards, that is not a factor, as the two loads I mention above are only .3" difference in drop. 44.4" for the creedmoor, and 44.7" for the .308

If you really want to kill game at long range without heavy recoil, look at a .280 Ackley, .264 Win Mag, or a 7mm Rem Mag. Hell, even the 7mm-08 has less drop at 500 yards than the CM in comparable loads. All these are less than 40" drop at 500

I handload. I prefer 308. FOR ME the choice would come down to one less bullet to keep up with. I already load .308 pills in 300 blackout, 300 mag, 30-30 (yeah I know) and 30-06. I do not load anything in 6.5, so for me it would mean I would have to keep a box of bullets, and likely a different powder just for the 6.5. Seems like I can find a ton of uses for a 150-180gr 308 bullet and H4895 powder. Just my opinion.

Jason

If your using H4895 in your 300 magnum, you are not even close to realizing the potential of that cartridge. 30-06 will also do better with slower burning powders.